An appeals court has refused to reinstate a year of retirement benefits for a former Newark mayor who worked as an Essex County Collegeprofessor, ruling that it was reasonable for the pension program to strip Sharpe James of those earnings because of hisfederal conviction.

James, Newark's mayor for 20 years who served 18 months in prison, called theAppellate Division decision "ludicrous and an insult to justice and fair play," he told NJ Advance Media in an email.

At issue was James' yearlong service as a senior fellow and municipal government professor for Essex County College's Urban Issues Institute between 2006-07. He earned $150,000 in a position created specially for him, according to the case.

A conference room in Newark's LeRoy F. Smith, Jr. Public Safety Building has been rededicated as the "Sheila Y. Oliver Conference Center," after New Jersey's Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver.

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Newark, NJ--A conference room in Newark's LeRoy F. Smith, Jr. Public Safety Building has been rededicated as the "Sheila Y. Oliver Conference Center," in honor and in recognition of the public service contributions and accomplishments of New Jersey's first African American Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver.

Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, Jr. officially renamed the 14th-floor conference center on Tuesday, which was previously named for Oliver in 2013 to recognize her for being the second woman to serve as Assembly Speaker in New Jersey history.

"Sheila Oliver has had a long career in public service, been a strong advocate for her constituents and a role model for other women and children, and raised awareness about a variety of social issues and injustices," DiVincenzo said. "She has also been a trailblazer and pioneer, including becoming the first African-American Lt. Governor of New Jersey. It is important to recognize and celebrate people such as Sheila because they break barriers, inspire us and show what can be accomplished with hard work and determination."

Legislation passed by Newark's city council on Tuesday will offer greater protection to city employees who have been victims of sexual harassment.

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Newark, NJ—One by one they stepped forward, men and women who have suffered in silence, the victims of sexual harassment and abuse at the hands of employers, colleagues, clergy, friends and family members.

One woman told of being sexually abused as a young girl by a prominent city figure, while another—a man in his 50s—was sharing his story for the first time.

“I was a victim of sexual abuse between the ages of five and 16,” said Newark resident Thomas Ellis. “I thought it was only right to speak out for the men and women. I’m standing before you and shaking telling this story. I know what it’s like to be sexually abused. I know what it’s like to keep it bottled up, and I know what it’s like to finally speak out. You can live another day.”

Newark, NJ—Thousands of protesters converged on Newark's Military Park today as part of the nationwide March for Our Lives demonstrations calling for an end to gun violence.

Led by students from around New Jersey, the Newark rally was just one of nearly two dozen marches taking place across the state, and one of hundreds of protests across the United States, pushing for stricter gun control laws following last month's shooting in a Parkland, Florida high school that resulted in 17 deaths.

The rally kicked off at 10 a.m. with speakers that included student leaders from around the state, as well as local activists like Amina Baraka, the mother of Newark mayor Ras J. Baraka, who told the crowd that schools should not turn teachers into "armed security guards," but instead they should hire more social workers and support staff.

Mayor Ras J. Baraka talks about how Kia Taylor is a success in the Hire Newark program. Mayor Ras J. Baraka's 2018 4th Annual State of the City Address at New Jersey Performing Arts Center.

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To hear Mayor Ras Baraka tell it, the story of Newark is one of persistence.

And that persistence is finally paying off.

"We have changed the narrative about our city and all over the country; the headlines about Newark are changing," Baraka said at his fourth state of the city on Tuesday night. He opened by thanking his mother and Council President Mildred Crump, the first African-American woman to sit on the council. And then he sang, "Ain't gonna let nobody turn me around" as the audience cheered.

"I am here to tell you that the old negative narrative is not our story. It is not Newark’s story. Ours is an indefatigable journey forward,” he said. Baraka, whois seeking re-election in May for another four years, touted the progress of the New Jersey's largest city during a wide-ranging speech at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.

The Newark Police Department is working toward fulfilling the majority of requirements outlined in a 2016 consent decree between the Department of Justice, NPD and the City of Newark.

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Newark, NJ—The Newark Police Department is working toward fulfilling the majority of requirements outlined in a 2016 consent decree between the Department of Justice, NPD and the City of Newark that requires Newark police to implement significant reforms after a 2014 report concluded the NPD engaged in a pattern of unconstitutional policing.

Although a recently-released DOJ report shows noncompliance with the majority of requirements outlined in the agreement, the department said the six-month-old report is inaccurate and most of the mandated policies have already been drafted and are in varying stages of implementation.

The 2014 findings documented the NPD’s practice of constitutional violations in its stop and arrest practices; retaliation against individuals exercising their rights under the First Amendment; excessive use of force; and theft by officers.

Interim Superintendent of Newark Public Schools Robert Gregory is a third-generation Newarker who has devoted his life to education and the advancement of Newark’s youth.

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Remarkable Newarkers is a series profiling people who live and/or work in Newark who are making a positive contribution to the city.

Interim Superintendent of Newark Public Schools Robert Gregory is a third-generation Newarker who has devoted his life to education and the advancement of Newark’s youth.

Gregory—recently appointed to lead the district during its return to full local control after more than two decades under state intervention—has been instrumental in significantly increasing graduation rates over the last two years and has led the charge in establishing a culture of college attendance throughout the district.